“The bipartisan passage reflects what we already know—the majority of Americans are in favor of this potential life-saving research,” said Amy Comstock, CEO of PAN. “I commend Senator Frist and those senators who have worked diligently to pass this bill.”

H.R. 810, which passed in the U.S. House of Representatives in May 2005, is expected to be the first veto the President has issued in his five and a half years in office.

“A veto would be devastating to the Parkinson’s community along with other Americans who have worked so hard to advocate for this research,” Comstock said. “It is unconscionable that the President’s first veto kills legislation dedicated to the health of Americans.”

H.R. 810 would expand current policy to allow for federal dollars to be used for stem cell research on donated embryos from fertility clinic patients. This legislation also specifies strict ethical guidelines. The stem cells may only be derived from In Vitro Fertilization (IVF)-created embryos. The couple must provide written consent and would not receive any compensation.

The current Administration policy states that federal funds may only be used for research on embryonic stem cell cultures created prior to August 9, 2001.

H.R. 810 was considered as a “package” of stem cell research bills, including S. 2754, Alternative Pluripotent Stem Cell Therapies Enhancement Act and S. 3504, the Fetus Farming Prohibition Act of 2006. Both bills passed.

These two bills do not move the field forward. One prohibits practices in research which no scientist in this country is undertaking, and the other promotes research that is already allowed.

More than 120 million Americans suffer from chronic and life-threatening diseases, such as Parkinson’s disease, diabetes, cancer, heart disease, Alzheimer’s, Multiple Sclerosis, HIV/AIDS, ALS, osteoporosis and spinal cord injuries. Medical researchers have discovered that many diseases and injuries could potentially be treated or cured by new regenerative medicine therapies involving stem cells.

Founded in 1991, PAN is the unified education and advocacy voice of the Parkinson’s community—over one million Americans and their families. Through education and interaction with the Parkinson’s community, scientists, lawmakers, opinion leaders, and the public, PAN fights for a cure by increasing awareness about Parkinson’s disease and seeks increased federal support for Parkinson’s research. For more information on the Parkinson’s Action Network, please visit www.parkinsonsaction.org or call 1-800-850-4726.